The Trench Trophy is an award, started in 2003, which recognizes high school football lineman in the Western New York area. The award was founded by Len Kuhn and Carl Kuras. The Trench Trophy Award, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization officially established in 2015.
Players are graded on specific criteria by a group of knowledgeable scouts, known as the Committee. The Committee is composed of coaches, former coaches, and former players, who attend the games of more than 80 schools on a weekly basis. Every week five players are chosen as "Nominees," who are then eligible for the final award. After the state championships are over, nominees are broken down to twelve Hall of Fame Inductees, and then one final winner. The "Lineman of the Year" receives a college scholarship, among other accolades.
The Trench Trophy Award, Inc. provides recognition to football players who predominantly play the position of offensive or defensive line for their school’s varsity, interscholastic football program. Schools include those of Section VI of the NYSPHSAA and Monsignor Martin Athletic Conference.
The specific objectives and purpose of the Trench Trophy shall be:
A. To promote sportsmanship, civic responsibility, and scholastic effort by athletes who predominantly play football.
B. To provide recognition to football linemen in Western New York state.
C. To provide opportunities for players to be discovered by local, regional, and national intercollegiate football programs.
D. To promote the growth of youth athletics, specifically the sport of football.
In August 2010, the Trench Trophy announced that their yearly college scholarship was named in honor of founding member and generous contributor John Gebhardt. The John Gebhardt Memorial Scholarship was decided by result of unanimous vote by the Committee. John was a dedicated supporter of the award since its inception.
The name "Trench Trophy" was approved on August 18, 2003, at the first meeting of the Trench Trophy Committee. It comes from the adage that lineman play in the "trenches."
Past Winners:
| Last Name | First Name | School | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitka | Ryan | Amherst | 2019 | |
| Bruce | Geno | Hamburg | 2019 | |
| Mahony | Conor | Lancaster | 2019 | |
| Osborn | Tim | North Tonawanda | 2019 | |
| Pannes | Cooper | Southwestern | 2019 | |
| Schon | Eric | St. Francis | 2019 | |
| Urbaniak | A.J. | Williamsville South | 2019 | |
| Vernon | Teryon | Maritime | 2019 | |
| Walker | Jason | St. Joe's | 2019 | |
| Williams | Jeremiah | Bennett | 2019 | |
| Wilson | Cody | Albion | 2019 | |
| Wolfer | Zack | Franklinville/Ellicottville | 2019 | |
| Argo | Jake | Starpoint | 2018 | |
| Bernard | Andrew | Randolph-Frewsburg | 2018 | |
| Boyd Jr. | Stephen | Cardinal O’Hara | 2018 | |
| Braswell | Greg | South Park | 2018 | |
| Doty | Tyler | St. Joe's | 2018 | |
| Gaca | David | Lancaster | 2018 | |
| Hamme | Nick | West Seneca East | 2018 | |
| Loynes | Jihad | Bennett | 2018 | |
| Newcomb | George | West Seneca West | 2018 | |
| Powers | Joe | Lewiston-Porter | 2018 | |
| Smith | Trevor | Pioneer | 2018 | |
| Smouse | Jordan | Clymer-Sherman-Panama | 2018 | |
| Walter | Josh | Williamsville North | 2018 | |
| Wilkes | Jeremiah | Grand Island | 2018 | |
| Al-Hemyari | Manny | Cleveland Hill | 2017 | |
| Andreessen | Joe | Lancaster | 2017 | |
| Arrington | Sam | Cleveland Hill | 2017 | |
| Bass | Terrance | Cheektowaga | 2017 | |
| Calo | Jake | Lancaster | 2017 | |
| Claycomb | Brad | West Seneca West | 2017 | |
| Holmes | Jordon | North Tonawanda | 2017 | |
| McGennis | Will | Canisius | 2017 | |
| Sanders | Jeremiah | South Park | 2017 | |
| Schreader | Kyle | Starpoint | 2017 | |
| Whitaker | Tariq | Cheektowaga | 2017 | |
| Woodarek | Walt | Franklinville/Ellicottville | 2017 | |
| Black | Chauval | Dunkirk | 2016 | |
| Carr-Johnson | Michael | Hutch Tech | 2016 | |
| Emer | Nathan | Iroquois | 2016 | |
| Grisolia | Tyler | St. Francis | 2016 | |
| Hutchinson | Preston | Franklinville/Ellicottville | 2016 | |
| Jones | Nick | Dunkirk | 2016 | |
| Kloss | Sean | Clarence | 2016 | |
| Kubik | Daniel | Orchard Park | 2016 | |
| Luderman | Jacob | Lancaster | 2016 | |
| Pawlowski | Nathan | Cleveland Hill | 2016 | |
| White | Tyler | Kenmore West | 2016 | |
| Wilkes | J.B. | Grand Island | 2016 | |
| Bruenn | Greg | West Seneca East | 2015 | |
| Bullock-Watson | Tristen | Hutch-Tech | 2015 | |
| Fuzak | Jake | Williamsville South | 2015 | |
| Grant | Jakob | Depew | 2015 | |
| Hannon | Pat | Springville | 2015 | |
| Miner | Leyton | Alden | 2015 | |
| Newsome | Khaliqye | Bennett | 2015 | |
| Perlino | AJ | East Aurora-Holland | 2015 | |
| Roberson | Richard | Canisius | 2015 | |
| Senn | Wesley | Randolph | 2015 | |
| Stephens | Desmond | Timon-St. Jude | 2015 | |
| Wray | Sam | Starpoint | 2015 | |
| Attea | George | Williamsville North | 2014[15] | |
| Baker | Chandler | Maple Grove-Chautauqua | 2014 | |
| Bowers | Michael | Randolph | 2014 | |
| Crawford | Keyshawn | Cleveland Hill | 2014 | |
| Kelleher | Mike | Maryvale | 2014 | |
| Ksiezarczyk | Evin | West Seneca East | 2014[16] | |
| Mistretta | Joe | Jamestown | 2014 | |
| Rymarczyk | Matt | Kenmore East | 2014 | |
| Wheatley | T.J. | Canisius | 2014 | |
| Wilson | Rob | Cheektowaga | 2014 | |
| Bill | Jeremiah | Hamburg | 2013 | |
| Byrne | Ryan | Bishop Timon/St. Jude | 2013 | |
| Doctor | Tommy | Grand Island | 2013 | |
| Hillis | Dawson | Orchard Park | 2013 | |
| Lamb | Mike | Depew | 2013 | |
| MacIlwain | Steven | Cleveland Hill | 2013 | |
| Merlau | Ryan | Pioneer | 2013 | |
| Oldro | Cody | Randolph | 2013 | |
| Perry | Kevon | Burgard | 2013 | |
| Stauss | Steven | Albion | 2013 | |
| Zobrest | Phil | Alden | 2013 | |
| Bunker | Jason | Alden | 2012 | |
| Czech | John | Jamestown | 2012 | |
| Haines | Cortland | Jamestown | 2012 | |
| Hunter | Ryan | Canisius | 2012 | |
| Murphy | Sean | Bishop Timon/St. Jude | 2012 | |
| Nocek | Nick | Fredonia | 2012 | |
| Senn | Michael | Orchard Park | 2012 | |
| Sommerville | Khalil | Bennett | 2012 | |
| Studd | Tyler | Springville | 2012 | |
| Swan | Jake | Maple Grove | 2012 | |
| Anderson | Nathan | Frewsburg | 2011 | |
| Austin | Dan | Southwestern | 2011 | |
| Bartholomew | Miles | St. Francis | 2011 | |
| Burgio | Andrew | Depew | 2011 | |
| Chase | Josh | Alden | 2011 | |
| DiPirro | Kyle | St. Mary's | 2011 | |
| Lathrop | Brandon | Kenmore West | 2011 | |
| Leach | Devon | Orchard Park | 2011 | |
| Morganstern | Mike | Cheektowaga | 2011 | |
| Scamurra | T.J. | Williamsville South | 2011 | |
| Anna | Dylan | Pioneer | 2010 | |
| Bauer | Austin | Lancaster | 2010 | |
| Cambria | Jack | St. Joe's | 2010 | |
| Fluent | Ben | Randolph | 2010 | |
| Langworthy | Pat | Southwestern | 2010 | |
| NeMoyer | Thomas | Canisius | 2010 | |
| Sanders | Anthony | McKinley | 2010 | |
| Schiavi | Mike | Lackawanna | 2010 | |
| Therrien | Todd | Williamsville East | 2010 | |
| Washington | Dereon | Riverside | 2010 | |
| Bigelow | Troy | Eden | 2009 | |
| Carlson | Jasen | Southwestern | 2009 | |
| Gallagher | Dillon | Williamsville South | 2009 | |
| Harnden | Eric | Grand Island | 2009 | |
| Hornung | Matt | Cheektowaga | 2009 | |
| Howard | Desmond | St. Francis | 2009 | |
| Marsh | Zack | Panama | 2009 | |
| Mulhern | Sean | Riverside | 2009 | |
| Shreve | Casey | North Tonawanda | 2009 | |
| Shreve | Kyle | North Tonawanda | 2009 | |
| Buck | Chris | Frontier | 2008 | |
| Bunker | Ben | North Tonawanda | 2008 | |
| Gens | Corey | Maple Grove | 2008 | |
| Green | Reggie | Lackawanna | 2008 | |
| Hairston | Curtis | Cleveland Hill | 2008 | |
| Harnden | Ryan | Grand Island | 2008 | |
| Kieliszek | Kevin | Lancaster | 2008 | |
| Mesi | Justin | Orchard Park | 2008 | |
| Phillips | Steve | Sweet Home | 2008 | |
| Rohauer | Donald | Alden | 2008 | |
| Smith | Mike | Grover Cleveland | 2008 | |
| Urschel | John | Canisius | 2008 | |
| Benson | Anthony | Grover Cleveland | 2007 | |
| Eldridge | Zack | Cleveland Hill | 2007 | |
| Dudkowski | Kevin | Depew | 2007 | |
| Garvey | Art | East Aurora | 2007 | |
| Jesonowski | Joshua | Iroquois | 2007 | |
| Balcerzak | Corey | Lockport | 2007 | |
| Bloom | Randy | Orchard Park | 2007 | |
| Rosario | Jose | Randolph | 2007 | |
| Hymes | Corey | St. Francis | 2007 | |
| Christman | Nicholas | Sweet Home | 2007 | |
| Hadi | Abdullah | Lackawanna | 2006 | |
| Skubis | Christopher | Clarence | 2006 | |
| Byrum | Carlton | Depew | 2006 | |
| Rodriguez | Gil | Frontier | 2006 | |
| Kakavand | Nicholas | Iroquois | 2006 | |
| Apperson | Andrew | Maple Grove | 2006 | |
| Appenheimer | Mike | Maryvale | 2006 | |
| DePalma | Joseph | Silver Creek | 2006 | |
| Steinwald | Harrison | St Joe's | 2006 | |
| Eaton | Blake | Allegany-Limestone | 2005 | |
| Beaver | Jeffrey | Burgard | 2005 | |
| King | Justin | Grand Island | 2005 | |
| Jesonowski | Jesse | Iroquois | 2005 | |
| Hogg | John | McKinley | 2005 | |
| Annis | Max | North Tonawanda | 2005 | |
| McElwain | Tim | Randolph | 2005 | |
| Papia | Jeff | St Joe's | 2005 | |
| Bittner | Pete | Williamsville North | 2005 | |
| Smith | Chris | St. Francis | 2004 | |
| Worthington | Doug | St. Francis | 2004 | |
| Brown | Tim | Burgard | 2004 | |
| Rosner | Adam | Depew | 2004 | |
| Coan | Steve | Frewsburg | 2004 | |
| Margerum | Ian | Hamburg | 2004 | |
| Port | Alex | North Tonawanda | 2004 | |
| Weber | Jason | Orchard Park | 2004 | |
| Miller | Matt | Portville | 2004 | |
| Santiago | Adriel | South Park | 2004 | |
| Langworthy | Matt | Southwestern | 2004 | |
| Randle | Brandon | Burgard | 2003 | |
| Amos | Ryan | Cleveland Hill | 2003 | |
| Kindt | Justin | Depew | 2003 | |
| Livingston | John | Eden | 2003 | |
| Ingraham | Doug | Grand Island | 2003 | |
| Haney | Alex | Lockport | 2003 | |
| Maull | Gary | Olean | 2003 | |
| Graham | Matt | Orchard Park | 2003 | |
| Sickles | Andy | Randolph | 2003 | |
| Freeman | Garvie | South Park | 2003 |
[Size [height and/or weight] shall NOT be taken into consideration]